Fernielea

Overview

Sitting in the shady yard of Fernielea I couldn't help but think that this is the kind of place where novels are written, first dates are had, and and where grandmothers celebrate their umpteenth birthdays.

In terms of a relaxing spot, the cafe has a tonne of elements working for it. The staff are of the nice variety - ones who are good at their job (but aren't too stressed out to have a conversation or two), the food's delicious - but the real charm of Fernielea is its Coatesville countryside location. Next door to the amiable cafe is an open grassy paddock and the cafe's backyard has its own chooks. Fernielea is just that kind of magical 'country getaway' type of place.

While blissfully sitting in the outside courtyard of this Mary Poppins-esque bubble of a cafe, I tried roasted mushrooms, topped with red pesto, and stacked on potato hash, ciabatta bread and garden greens ($18.90). It was pretty delicious, but what my friend had - the Eggs Benedict, was a definite winner. We also tried the smoothies. I had a peach and mango smoothie, which was apple juice-based with ice and real peach and mango. A definite winner in terms of the level of refreshment you'll feel drinking it.

With an amazing outdoor area, the place is great to visit for an unwinding 'out-of-town' experience. There's also a reasonably-sized kids' play park by the cafe, which means it's somewhere you could even bring your children, if you're that way inclined.